US Politics | Ukraine news latest: Vladimir Putin claims annexed Ukrainians now ‘Russian citizens forever’ in showboat speech

VLADIMIR Putin has illegally annexed four Ukraine regions into his control \- claiming people there are now ...Russian citizens forever.... The Russian leader claimed he scored victory in the Ukrainian regions of Luhansk, Donetsk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia following sham referendums over recent days. Putin said following the referendums "people have made a choice" and claimed that it is due to the "will of the people" that the annexations have happened. Putin threatened the West by saying he would protect Russia's land "by all means necessary". This comes as the UN have warned that today's events would mark a ...dangerous escalation... and jeopardise prospects for peace. Read our Ukraine-Russia live blog below for the latest updates...